Jurgen Klopp on Liverpool hype: I can’t walk on water like Jesus Christ

Jurgen Klopp has played down the hysteria surrounding his Liverpool appointment, joking that he can’t perform miracles like Jesus Christ.

The 48-year-old German head coach signed a three-year deal with the Merseyside outfit on Thursday evening after Liverpool sacked Brendan Rodgers.

Expectations are important in life. After all this hype, we can cool down and talk about football. But expectations are one of the most important things we have to talk about

Jurgen Klopp

The former Mainz manager led Borussia Dortmund to back-to-back Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012, before BVB suffered a 2-1 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.

But Klopp, who was previously linked with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, insisted that he won’t be able to peform miracles at Anfield, adding that he will need time.

“If you want to see Liverpool be more successful than in the last 25 years, you can do your small part, of course,” Klopp told reporters at his media conference.

“If you want to portray me like Jesus, but then the next day say, ‘no, he can’t walk on water’, then we have a problem.

“I can’t walk on water. I dive into it.

“Expectations are important in life. After all this hype, we can cool down and talk about football. But expectations are one of the most important things we have to talk about.

“Liverpool fans have been waiting for so many years that I can understand they are losing patience, but it doesn’t work like that. Some things will change, because I am different to other managers, but we cannot change the whole world in one day.

“I don’t want to use my three-year contract as an excuse and after that three years say, ‘Well, now we can rise up’. No, I want to change as many things as soon as possible, but it is really important that we are patient enough to be successful.”

The 18-time English champions are languishing in 10th place in the Premier League table following Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Everton in the Merseyside derby.

The Reds are six points behind leaders Manchester City.

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Klopp’s Liverpool side will face Tottenham Hotspur in their first Premier League game at White Hart Lane on 17 October.